Houston LB Mercilus named AFC Defensive Player of the Month


Houston Texans defense end J.J. Watt had a pretty good week.
His teammate, linebacker Whitney Mercilus had an even better month.
One day after Watt was honored as AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his Week 17 performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mercilus was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month.
Mercilus had 17 tackles, 5.5 sacks, seven quarterback hits, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery, while recording at least one sack in three of out Houston's five games.
With his 3.5 sacks in last Sunday's win over the Jaguars, the four-year veteran became the first player in Texans' franchise history and the fifth overall since 1982 to have two games in one season with at least 3.5-sacks. The 25-year-old set a career high with 12 sacks in 2015.
This is the first time Mercilus has won Defensive Player of the Month honors.
Mercilus and will look to continue his strong late-season play in Saturday's playoff matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
